May it please Your Excellency:
I beg you would favor me with a letter recommendatory to the Continental Congress and to his Excellency Genl. Washington, also of the same nature a letter to Monsr. DeJertun, Minister of the Marine in France. As I have resolved something in my mind for the advantage of Congress, which I shall communicate to your Excellency on some future day. I beg you would be mindful of me, & give me permission to write to your Excellency, you will excuse my not riding up to visit your good Lady and family as I shall certainly do myself the honor of waiting on them before I return to France. If I can be of any service to you I very gladly should embrace the opportunity. I have the honor to represent by petition to the General Assembly and by another to the Council the damage I have sustained by the deformation of the Regiment; of a certainty I have expended more than 10 thousand pounds. If I can by any means be reimbursed, I shall be under the greatest obligations—I likewise send you my commission, and request another with the great seal-affixed, likewise all those letters recommendatory which have been requested by the Gentlemen officers of my late Regiment. Your Excellency I am your most huml. servt.
At New Bern, Sept. 20th 1778.
I have the honor to do you observe, that it is been put in the Gazette that the Regiment has been broke'd and not reformed, as that is a great one dishonor in France to be broke'd the officers and me also do you pray to certify the way of the Resolution of the great Assembly. I send to you by this present, & please to
you to exchange our commission and to give ours of with the great seal affixed. I also beg you the favor to send to me the letter of good recommendation for Mr. LeBaron de Bonstetien, M. Martin de Breteuil, de Sambeouf, Debadie, Montflorence, Lavan de Belvieu, Sureau. One for de Congress and another for de General Washington.Mr. DeCarouet have lost his commission and also Mr. Sureau, if you will be so kind to send them another they will be oblige to you as I will myself.